SoccerToday NPSL Spotlight Series
Soccer News: The soccer scene has been exploding and the sport’s popularity increasing substantially. The National Premier Soccer League – NPSL for short – is the country’s largest amateur soccer league. SoccerToday’s special coverage on this 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid, gives soccer fans a glimpse into the life of the teams.
And did you know, NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Soccer Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and some NPSL teams have performed very well. NPSL is affiliated with both the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).
Founded in 2010, learn more about Georgia Revolution FC from President and General Manager, Eric Morrison.
Diane Scavuzzo: How did you become the owner and NPSL?
Eric Morrison: For the last several years I’ve been exploring the option of owning a team and the opportunity to purchase the Georgia Revolution FC presented itself. After a great deal of research, myself along with a few close friends, who are also huge soccer fans, purchased the team.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you become a soccer fan? Did you ever play soccer?
Eric Morrison: Like most Americans I played football growing up. Soccer just wasn’t a big sport at the time in Maryland where I lived. My wife is from Peru and her entire family loves soccer and once I began to understand the game I was hooked. Then when my oldest son was four his soccer coach quit and I took over. Soccer became a huge part of our lives as I coached both my sons and then watched them play growing up. They now are both involved with the Revs making it a family business and we really enjoy that aspect.
Diane Scavuzzo: As an owner, how would you describe yourself?
Eric Morrison: I consider myself very hands on in the day to day operations but I don’t get involved in coaching or roster decision, I leave that to the coaching staff. I stay focused on the business side and do all the glamorous work like washing the uniforms after a game, driving the van, and finding balls in the woods. You know, what all sports team owners dream of.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who is your head coach and why did you select him?
Eric Morrison: Our head coach is Juergen Mauer. He has extensive coaching and playing experience in Germany and the US. He has coached high level men’s soccer in Germany and has also been involved in youth soccer in both Germany and the US. I’ve known him for about ten years and from the day I bought the team he was the coach I felt would fit best into what we are trying to accomplish at the Revs.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your favorite memory so far since becoming an owner?
Eric Morrison: Really there are two. One is working with friends and family to make the games enjoyable for the fans. Friends like Kelly, Ingrid, and Jaz are at the gate, my son Alec runs the marketing and media along with some of the guys he went to high school with, my son Sam is on the Reserves and also helps with the fan shop with his girlfriend Sheena, my wife Missy is the PA announcer (where being a Revs fan does come out some), Rick sets up the PA and makes sure the teams are taken care of. It’s just a great way to do business.
The other memory is really about watching the team come together. We are like the United Nations with players from 12 different countries on the roster. To see them work together and become a team has been truly amazing to watch.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you feel that the NPSL is doing a good job with the challenges of amateur/pro men’s soccer?
Eric Morrison: Yes. The NPSL is doing a great job. As the league continues to grow in teams and fans it is getting known nationally as one of the best leagues in the country. As an owner I feel well supported by the NPSL but not micromanaged, I am still an owner who can make decisions that are best for my team and make business sense without unrealistic expectations or restrictions. As entrepreneurs I think that is what most owners want.
Diane Scavuzzo: The NPSL has teams in over 80 markets across the country – is your area in need of more competition or are you concerned about future expansion?
Eric Morrison: Right now there are three 4th division teams in the Atlanta Metro area, two NPSL, one PDL and the MLS coming next year. I still think there is room for one more NPSL team on the west side of the city and others regionally. You should never be afraid of a competitive business environment, it only makes your business better. For soccer is also brings in more fans and rivalries which are very good for the sport.
Diane Scavuzzo: Would you like to see European style promotion and relegation exist in the USA?
Eric Morrison: I get asked this question all the time and the short answer is yes because as a fan it is much more exciting. The perception is the MLS is stopping Pro/Rel and that may be true, but there is a very real business aspect to being promoted from a lower division. Your operating cost increases by at least 10 times but that doesn’t equal 10 times the revenue and this could lead to a failed business. Some teams can likely support it financially but there would need to be a plan supported through U.S. Soccer to ensure teams weren’t just getting promoted then go bankrupt or be forced to self-relegate for financial reasons. The entire Pro/Rel argument is much more complicated than just the popular sentiment that the MLS is holding lower division teams down.
Diane Scavuzzo: What team do you believe does the best at promoting the game?
Eric Morrison: In the NPSL I would say three teams are doing very well at promoting the game. Chattanooga FC has received national attention for the crowds it draws in and its relationship with the people of the city. As an owner my goal is to find a way to emulate what they are doing. Detroit City FC is another one that has strong fan support and has done great things for its team, city, and the sport as a whole. Lastly, Nashville FC does great through their fan ownership. This is a concept we are considering for a percentage of the Revs ownership in the future.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who do you believe is your biggest rival?
Eric Morrison: Hands down the Atlanta Silverbacks. We lost to them twice in close games in the U.S. Open Cup when they were an NASL team and now are in our conference in the NPSL. Their fan base is large and loud, the players on both sides are strong, and overall the teams just don’t like each other. There is a great deal of competition for players and a natural rivalry based on geography. The rivalry is healthy but very real.
Diane Scavuzzo: How is the season going so far? What are your goals for 2016?
Eric Morrison: We started off very well in the preseason but have been hit with a rash of key injuries as the NPSL season is going forward. Winning the I-20 Cup over Birmingham will hopefully get the momentum rolling along with the arrival of some very good college players. The goal is to win the conference playoffs, progress through the NPSL playoffs, and receive a bid to the U.S. Open Cup. We have a very talented group of players and if we can get back on track we can beat any team in the league.
